Kamala Harris names Nathan Barankin as Senate chief of staff

Senator-elect Kamala Harris meets with immigrant families and their advocates to discuss the election results and the nation's future at The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. Harris said she will fight to preserve protections advocates fear could be dismantled once Donald Trump becomes president. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) less

Senator-elect Kamala Harris meets with immigrant families and their advocates to discuss the election results and the nation's future at The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, Thursday, Nov. ... more

Photo: Nick Ut, Associated Press

Photo: Nick Ut, Associated Press

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Senator-elect Kamala Harris meets with immigrant families and their advocates to discuss the election results and the nation's future at The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. Harris said she will fight to preserve protections advocates fear could be dismantled once Donald Trump becomes president. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) less

Senator-elect Kamala Harris meets with immigrant families and their advocates to discuss the election results and the nation's future at The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, Thursday, Nov. ... more

Photo: Nick Ut, Associated Press

Kamala Harris names Nathan Barankin as Senate chief of staff

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California Sen.-elect Kamala Harris began filling out her staff Wednesday by naming longtime aide Nathan Barankin as her chief of staff and several former prosecutors to her transition team.

Barankin has been chief deputy attorney general under Harris for the past four years, managing the department’s nearly 5,000 employees, including 1,100 lawyers. Before that was her chief of staff. He also served in executive roles under former Attorneys General Jerry Brown and Bill Lockyer.

“Nathan has been my trusted adviser and right hand for many years in the attorney general’s office,” Harris said in a statement. “He is an exceptional lawyer, legislative expert and career public servant.”

Harris, a former San Francisco district attorney, also appointed Debbie Mesloh, longtime senior adviser, Michael Troncoso, former chief of public policy in the attorney general’s office and Tony West, who served as the third-highest position in the U.S. Department of Justice, as her transition co-chairs. West is also Harris’ brother-in-law.

Harris, who beat Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez with nearly 62 percent of the vote, had the highest winning percentage for a non-incumbent in California’s history. She will take office office in January.